Summer Hair

Today was my last day of work for this academic year. Yeah! I am officially on vacation! For the next two months that means no riding the dirty, stinky, crowded train into Bari. No more office politics. No more brain strain from reading my students' compositions and trying to correct them in the most effective and useful way so that they can improve their written expression and organisation in the English language...well, actually, I like doing that. I like my job. I like teaching and I like my students, too. A lot.

But, for now, it's time to take a break. Summer means I don't work at the university, but it is a busy time for me anyway. I still have to take care of the house, the kids, the shopping, the cooking, the cleaning and all that. But, when I'm not working I can do all of that stuff at my own pace. I can slow down. And that's wonderful.

I'm kind of a sloth by nature. Don't call me lazy. I mean...I get things done. No, really, I do. I just get them done...eventually. One of my least favorite things in life is having someone tell me to hurry up. My husband is quite different, he's a hyperactive speed-demon who never sits down to relax. And when I say never, I mean never. Being together has affected both of us...I move quite a bit faster than I did before I met him. And he has...well, no, he hasn't...no, he's still the same maniacal overachiever as ever. I just ignore him when his frenzy of activity starts to get on my nerves...

So here's Step One in my slowing-down, doing-things-at-my-pace summer lifestyle: my new simplified hair routine. Keep in mind that I have straight hair, completely straight hair. The thin, limp kind. What you see in this photo can only be defined as a minor miracle...Saretta has waves!

You want waves, too? It's easy, just follow my example. First, go swimming in the Adriatic Sea. Next, go home, take a shower, but convince yourself that no, you do not have time to wash your hair now, you'll do that later. Then, spend 4 to 5 hours ironing in a room without air-conditioning on a hot afternoon (you may have to be living in Italy and married to an Italian to understand this phase completely!). Next, so as not to faint from the heat, roll your hair up and clip it to the top of your head. Finally, forget that you meant to wash your hair, go to bed, wake up late the next morning so that you once again do not have time to wash that hair...and presto, bingo...my wavy hair look can be yours!

Gotta warn you, though, it's kind of crunchy from sea-salt.